How to Reduce Clutter to Reduce Stress

"Step away from the sale rack." That's Ashley and husband Greg's best advice to keep your kitchen counters clean, giving you one less thing to stress about. "Just because it's the latest and greatest kitchen gadget doesn't mean it needs to take up space in your kitchen," they say. "Stick with the basics. This makes your kitchen a lot easier to organize and keep organized."

Fifteen minutes of tidying every night: That's the secret to a stress-free home, says Ashley Brown of the Seventh House on the Left. "We call it the Bumble Bee Cleaning method," she says. "Our regimen includes straightening up the pillows on the sofa, wiping down the kitchen countertops, taking out the trash and starting the dishwasher. It makes waking up the next morning so much more enjoyable."

"Make your cleaning supplies easy to grab and go," says Becky Rapinchuk of the Clean Mama. "Hang supplies from wire shelving, so it's easy to see when you're running low. Add S-hooks to neatly store brooms, mops, dusters and more.

By installing a small cabinet under a floating shelf, Ashli Malinek of the Mini Manor added essential storage for a small home command center. "It holds everything — stationery, a printer, catalogs and more — and it's where we pay bills, take down phone messages and keep a calendar," she says. "It keeps our family on track and organized."